This story was exciting for me. I’ve always been interested in the weather, and, specifically, bad weather. Sirens were going off that day, people were heading for storm shelters, and my editor and I were outside snapping pictures and interviewing people! Ah, the life of a reporter! The adrenaline rush, the danger, the stupidity at times. . . . Needless to say, a tornado didn’t actually touch down, but tornado-producing clouds were spotted and we just happened to catch one on film swirling above the Tribune. And, the damage that transpired from straight-line winds was unbelievable! It looked like a tornado had whipped through the county. This story and the great pictures that my editor and another colleague of mine took won another award from the Mississippi Press Association for best picture-story combination.
Stormy Weather
2 funnel clouds confirmed in DeSoto County
By Lara Wistock
The Tribune
DeSoto County – Emergency preparedness is never far from the minds of people who live close to the wrath of Mother Nature. That was never more evident than on Feb. 18 when a severe storm swept through the Mid-South, cutting a swath across communities in DeSoto County.
Since that day, experts have confirmed that two funnel clouds descended on DeSoto County, one in Olive Branch and the other on Star Landing Road and Highway 61.
